Accepting Nominations!

Nominations for next year’s field of 32 saints are now being accepted by the Supreme Executive Committee. Yes, for the next week we invite you to revel in the joyful, anticipatory Season of Nominationtide.

But before we get to the main attraction, we encourage you to visit the Lentorium. You can prove your love for Lent Madness by loading up on Lent Madness merchandise, including the ubiquitous Lent Madness mug featuring 2015 Golden Halo winner Francis of Assisi, the novel pint glass featuring Silver Halo winner Brigid of Kildare, or the de rigeur purple Lent Madness t-shirt.

And now, on to the main event: the call for nominations for Lent Madness 2016!

As always, we seek to put together a balanced bracket of saints ancient and modern, Biblical and ecclesiastical representing the breadth and diversity of Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

Inevitably, some will disagree with certain match-ups or be disappointed that their favorite saint didn’t end up in the official bracket. If you find yourself muttering invective against the SEC, we implore you to take a deep cleansing breath. Remember, there’s always Lent Madness 2034.

While the SEC remains responsible for the formation of the final bracket, we encourage your participation in the nominating process. As in past years, we might even listen to some of your suggestions.

As you discern saints to nominate, please keep in mind that a number of saints are ineligible for next year’s “saintly smack down.” This includes previous Golden Halo winners, the entire field of Lent Madness 2015, those saints who made it to the Round of the Elate Eight in 2014 and 2013, and those from the 2012 Faithful Four. Here is a comprehensive list of ineligible saints. Please keep this in mind as you submit your nominations — which you can do ONLY by leaving a comment on this post. Did we mention that the only way to make a nomination for Lent Madness 2016 is to leave a comment on this post?

Also, please note that the saints you nominate should be in the sanctoral calendar of one or more churches. We’re open minded. To a point.

Remember that when it comes to saints in Lent Madness, many are called yet few are chosen (by the SEC). So leave a comment below with your (eligible) nomination!

The Field from 2015 (all ineligible)Gregory the Illuminator Brendan the NavigatorJohn KebleTheclaFrancis of AssisiJohn WycliffeBalthazarCeciliaBernard MizeckiMargaret of AntiochMargery KempeJackson KemperBedeCuthbertMolly BrantSwithunHadewijchJuan DiegoDorcasFrederick DouglassEgeriaHildegardBarbaraThomas KenDionysius the GreatIrene the GreatBrigid of KildareElizabethWilliam LaudKamehamehaTeresa of AvilaDavid Oakerhater

After a mysterious process of bracket discernment at the upcoming SEC Retreat, the 2016 Bracket will be released on All Brackets Day, November 3, 2015. You have until Ascension Thursday, May 14, to make your nomination. In other words, your time is up when Jesus goes up.

For now, we wish you a joyous Nominationtide.

Update:Thanks for your nominations! Nominations for Lent Madness 2016 are now closed. But stay tuned – All Brackets Day, and the grand unveiling of next year’s bracket – is November 3.

Gilbert of Sempringham is my nomination for Lent Madness. 1083-1189 (Can this be? He lived more than 100 years?) He founded monasteries in England which at the time of his death house 1500 women and 700 men. These were dissolved in 1583.

Saint Nicholas! Who else? Actually he is one of the best known, perhaps, of saints, but also, perhaps, the least understood. So, give people an opportunity to learn that poor old Santa Claus is actually a champion of all the poor, vulnerable, and downtrodden. This could change Christmas forever! Onward for not-s0-jolly St. Nicholas!

How about the North Carolina saints approved at the last ECUSA General Convention: Pauli Murray, Manteo & Virginia Dare. Since Bishop Curry is a nominee for Presiding Bishop, it might be the perfect way to curry favor! Although I’m sure legend and kitsch abound for the latter, I think Pauli Murray is a better candidate for making it out of the first round.http://www.dionc.org/dfc/newsdetail_2/3154341

I nominate Samuel Johnson, first resident rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Stratford, CT, the oldest Episcopal (not Anglican) parish in the oldest diocese in the U.S. He is known as the Father of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, founding 25 churches in the colony. His philosophical writings were published by his friend, Benjamin Franklin, and he also worked to open an Anglican college in New York, serving as the first president of Kings College, later Columbia University. His son William Samuel Johnson did not go into the ministry, but served as a senator from Connecticut in the second Continental Congress. William Samuel also was a president of Columbia College, as it was called after the Revolution. There is more information about Samuel Johnson on WikiPedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Johnson_%28American_educator%29

I nominate Mother Theodore Guerin. I wrote her entry for the SCLM for consideration for Holy Women, Holy Men at GC2015. She was the foundress of the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary of the Woods, Indiana. She was brought to the U.S. from France in 1840 to further education of girls and women and the reach out to the folks in Southern Indiana. She spoke out against on human trafficking and racism that she observed – even using the word trafficking in 1843. I have all of her materials and photo approved by the Sisters of Providence.

Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, S.C., (August 28, 1774 – January 4, 1821) was the first native-born citizen[1] of the United States to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church (September 14, 1975).[2] She established the first Catholic school in the nation, at Emmitsburg, Maryland, where she founded the first American congregation of religious sisters, the Sisters of Charity.

I nominate Monnica ( mother of St. Augustine), Harriett Starr Cannon founder of the Community of St Mary serving health and education needs of poor women and children starting in NYC, Sarah Josepha Buell, author of first novel by an American woman which also was the first to deal with slavery.

(Mother) Mary Jones champion of social justice in the US. Worked to ban child labor, to bring justice to coal miners and other workers. This work was done when she was between 50 and 100.

Fran’s Jagerstatter was beheaded by the Nazis after refusing to serve in the German army. He did this despite being pressured by his family, his community, and his bishop to give in and be inducted.. You can read about him in Robert Ellsberg’s, All Saints.

I nominate Sarah Buell Hale, whose sainthood we just celebrated on April 30. Editor, “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, advocate for equal education, preservation of Bunker Hill and Mount Vernon, and primarily responsible for the nationalization of Thanksgiving!

Can I add another nomination? A very popular saint in Sicily where my family is from is Saint Rosalia. I believe she’s the patron saint of Palermo, but she’s venerated all over. I don’t know much about her, but it would be nice to know more. And of course St. Lucy is probably the best known Sicilian saint. How about her?

Bartolome de las Casas, a Spanish Dominican of the 16th century in the New World who opposed the atrocities committed against the native peoples. He was an early opposer of slavery, and fought for 50 years for the rights of a people regarded as barely human. A man of faith and strength.

I would like to nominate Mother Theresa. No words are needed to describe why she should be considered. I would also like to nominate St. Theresa of Avila. Both have served as guiding lights for me during my life.
Thank you.

Benedict Biscop (pronounced Bishop)–founder and abbot of Wearmouth-Jarrow, and librarian par excellence. It can be argued that without Benedict’s love of books, and his accumulation of an incredible research library, Bede would never have accomplished the literary achievements that made him “Venerable.”

Well, Columba [Columcille] and Lady Julian have already been nominated, so I second these and would add Enmegahbowh, the first recognized Native American priest in the Episcopal Church. His feast day is 12 June.

I’d like to nominate Matthew Talbot. You may have never heard of him, which is one of the reasons I find him so appealing. Matt was a common laborer in Dublin and considered a hopeless alcoholic. He’d take the pledge again and again, only to fall off the wagon. One day, when he was in his late twenties, he decided to try once more. He never took another drink and lived a very simple and humble life of prayer, study, asceticism, and charity for more than forty years. He was one of the little guys who lived in obscurity but tried to live heroically. He inspires a lot of people dealing with addiction, but his story is also about never giving up and shows how a quiet cheerful life dedicated to God can give glory to God as much as those who do great things in the eyes of the world. Two good biographies are Matt Talbot and His Times and Matt Talbot by Eddie Doherty. There are several shorter studies of him as well. He is recognized as venerable by the Roman Catholic Church, by the way, and is cause for beautification is open, so he fulfills the calendar requirement.

I second St. Gertrude. I once got to portray her when, as a Sunday School teacher, we did an All Saints’ presentation, each teacher taking on the persona of a different saint. I beg to differ, though, she was not “against” mice. My research showed that she had a pet mouse who lived in her convent cell with her.

Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker Gilbert and Annalivia Plurabelle Gilbert also second the choice of their patroness St Gertrude. Humphrey is an Anglo-Catholic cat, but Annalivia is neo-pagan Zen, so choosing St Gertrude might be a way of evangelizing her. It’s tricky enough living in a bi-species household, let alone a bi-faith household.

I nominate Saint Mother Theodore Guerin (1798 – 1856). After an extraordinary journey from France, Saint Mother Theodore arrived in the dense forest of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods near Terre Haute, IN in 1840 where she started a novitiate for the Sisters of Providence and a school for girls. She was canonized and made a saint in the Roman Catholic Church in October 2006.

I nominate Fred Rogers’ dog. I’m sure he’s on some canine-ical church’s saints’ calendar, like the Ewhiskerpal Church of America, Our Lady of St. Bernard, or followers of the Dalai Llaso Apso. Certainly Parson Russell would vote for him.

How about St. Christopher, the patron saint of travelers? My very first car was a VW bug, purchased by my father for my brothers and me as teenagers and previously owned by a nun. There was a St. Christopher medallion on the dashboard. I’m pretty sure that’s why my father bought the car.

I would like to nominate a man just recently canonized as a saint by Pope Francis. St. Ludovico (Louis) Casoria. He was a teacher by day. However, at night he walked the streets looking for homeless children who were frequently the victims of human trafficking. He founded a religious congregation to care specifically for such victims and founded an orphanage to house these children. Given the scourge of human trafficking that we see in the world today, this man stands as an example of what one person can do to end this terrible plight.

As a member of the Anti-Racism Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, I wish I could nominate Jonathan Daniels, martyred 50 years ago this August. But since he”s ineligible, I suggest Martin Luther King, Absalom Jones, and St. Stephen, for which my home parish is named.

Lent Madness often seems to me as a battle of the sexes, so I’ll nominate Joan of Arc…who actually could be very viable candidate for the Golden Halo. What’s more is the fact that she would probably be the only nominee and contender who has had the dubious honor of being excommunicated by the ecclesiastical authorities. Finally, I offer this peachy campaign slogan this fascinating Franco-feminist icon: “Vote for Joan: she’s baaad to the bone!”

St. Bridget of Sweden
St. Ignatius of Loyola
St. Francis Xavier
St. Peter Claver
St. John Francis Regis
St. Peter Faber
Pope St. John XXIII
St. Mark the Evangelist
St. John of the Cross
St. Kateri Tekakwitha

I nominate the Celtic saint Pelagius. And if you guys are as as diabolical as I know you are, you should add St. Augustine of Hippo. Nothing like a little free will vs. original sin debate to get the juices going during Lent.

FD Maurice. But I’d also like to nominate Dante Alighieri — if you need a write-up, I’ve done one as a member of TEC’s SCLM and it is in process toward “Cloud of Witnesses” (successsor to HWHM). I won’t argue the case for Dante here, but would be glad to forward the material to you. Cheers.

I’d like to nominate Harry Holt, 1901-1964 of Creswell, Oregon whose love and caring for abandoned children has changed the lives of thousands. . Harry was a farmer and lumberman who lived in Creswell with his wife, Bertha and six children. In 1954, after seeing a WorldVision film about mixed race children abandoned in Korea after the Korean War, he went to Korea planning to adopt a child. He came home with eight, whom the Holts raised as their own. The family then began commuting to Korea, establishing facilities, rescuing children, selling off their own properties to do it. Harry, who had had a serious heart attack, died in 1964 in Korea just after bringing in an abandoned baby. Bertha, who had trained as a nurse but been a stay-at-home Mom, took over the project, relying on her Christian faith to run the show. She lived to be 96. The Holt agency has saved thousands of children, and now operates in 12 countries. If the Holts aren’t yet on any calendar they are in the nightly prayers of children and families all over the world.

I would like to nominate Mr. Rogers. Fred Rogers brought neighborly calm to children (and their parents) for so many years. I am serving as Interim in Nantucket and have found out that he attended St. Paul’s–and there is an icon of him near the pew in which he sat. He was a beloved member of the Nantucket community and thos who knew him say he was genuinely as kind as the person he appeared to be on TV. He was an ordained Presbyterian minister who knew his ministry was to children.

This church archivist nominates St. Lawrence (aka San Lorenzo), patron saint of archivists, the poor, crops harvested in August, and cooks. The man was GRILLED! GRILLED! And had the wherewithal to make snappy comments to his torturers.

I’d like to nominate Aidan Bishop of Lindesfarne 651 (August 31) Trained at Iona he was a great evangelist for the church in Northern England. Aidan trained many monks and nuns several of whom went on to be church leaders.

I nominate the Four Chaplains, also known as the Dorchester Chaplains, who gave up their life vests and places in lifeboats to others during the sinking of the troop ship the S.S. Dorchester during WWII.

Four Chaplains Day (Feb. 3) is a Feast Day on the ECUSA liturgical calendar, so they meet that stipulation. Their image is also present in numerous memorials, chapel windows, etc., including the National Cathedral’s Heroes Chapel window.

I would like to nominate Saint Barnabas! He was a teacher and was known for encouraging others gifts; to do their best. He helped others find their talents and develop them. He is our parish patron saint and also at many other parishes.

I would like to nominate The Rev. Henry Budd, the first indigenous person to be ordained to the priesthood in the Anglican tradition in North America. His commemoration in the Anglican Church of Canada is April 2. His legacy lives on in Henry Budd College for Ministry in The Pas, Manitoba where he came as a catechist to the indigenous people of the area in 1840. 2015-16 marks the 175th anniversary of the arrival of Henry Budd to northwestern Manitoba. The parish he established, Christ Church, The Pas, is still an active parish in the Diocese of Brandon. I believe the Rev. Henry Budd is a worthy candidate for the 2016 bracket.

I nominate Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy. Priest, poet, prophet, and best-known chaplain in the British Army in World War One. Beloved by his soldiers, and nicknamed “Woodbine Willie” for the brand of cigarettes he gave them, his feast day is March 8 on the calendars of TEC and the C of E. After the war, he was an ardent advocate for justice for poor and working class people in the UK. He is the hero of my book which was published by Forward Movement in 2007. He is the author of Hymn 9 (“Awake, awake to love and work) in The Hymnal 1982.

I second that emotion! As a member of the Society of King Charles the Martyr, I would love to see him in the bracket. People have very strong feelings for and against Charles. What a bloodbath it will be if he is in the competition!

Chiune Sugihara, Japanese diplomat in Lithuania during WWII who issued thousands of transit visas to Jews so they could escape the Holocaust. He risked his career and his and his family’s lives to give an estimated 6,000-10,000 people a chance at survival. Against orders from his superiors, he handwrote visas 18-20 hours a day for six weeks in the summer of 1940 until the Japanese consulate closed and he was recalled to Japan, where he would later lose his job for his decision to set human lives over a directive from a distant government. He was a Christian and a good man and he is honored as one Righteous Among the Nations at the Yad Vashem memorial in Israel. The Episcopal Church calendar honors the Righteous Gentiles on July 16.

I nominate St. Polycarp of Smyrna.
He’s venerated in the
Anglican Communion
Eastern Orthodox Church
Oriental Orthodox Church
Roman Catholic Church and the
Lutheran Church
At the time of his martyrdom, when asked to betray Jesus, St Polycarp is credited with saying “eighty and six years have I served Him and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior? Bring forth what thou wilt”

I also nominate my patron, St. Joseph. Seriously, SEC, how hard do you think it was to accept everything he needed to in faith – Many preachers preach “Mary said yes!” She might have been stoned if Joseph had not also said yes. I claim I him as patron saint of step parents – from experience, I can tell you that can be a thankless job – as well as a joy. But think about the “mano a mano” talks that may have gone down.
My third nominee is St. Thomas the Apostle. Often labeled “Doubting Thomas” first let’s give him props for asking the hard questions. Isn’t that something we encourage? Also here’s a question or so: why doesn’t anyone ask where Thinas was when Jesus appeared in the upper room? Perhaps he was guarding the door to keep safe all the cowering rest of the group? Perhaps he was going for groceries because the others were to afraid to go out and be recognized. Perhaps he was out “getting the lay of the land – OR even scouting out and encouraging other of Jesus’ followers who were terrified and hiding.
Just sayin’

How about saint Jonathan Myrick Daniels? He is one of only two modern day US saints listed in Canterbury Cathedral and was a member of our episcopal church: St. James, Keene, NH. He join the civil rights movement whilst in seminary and went to Alabama when MLK jr put out the call to everyone. (Around the time of the Selma issues.Jonathan gave his life to save a young girl, Ruby Sales, from being shot as a deputy sheriff shot at her when they approached a corner store to buy a drink in Haynesville, Alabama, after being released from 9 days in jail without charge.
This August it is exactly 50 years since he was martyred and our church is celebrating him on August 23. We are also taking a youth pilgrimage down to Alabama to follow in his footsteps, learn more about civil rights (then and now) and join the EDS pilgrimage for him on 8/15.
Ruby Sales is still around and decided to “make her life count” after this sacrifice, doing many good works…
The other modern day US saint in Canterbury is of course MLK jr.

Please consider Henry Benjamin Whipple, 1822-1901, first bishop of the Diocese of Minnesota. In a life filled with amazing accomplishments, among other things he founded the boarding schools Shattuck (for boys) and St. Mary’s Hall (for girls), built Seabury Divinity School, ordained the first Native American to the priesthood, but most of all was best known as an advocate for Native Americans, who called him ‘Straight Tongue.” He asked President Lincoln to commute the death sentences of 303 Dakota warriors involved in the 1862 Dakota War; Lincoln complied for all but 38. The hanging of the 38 in Mankato, Minnesota, was and remains the largest mass execution in U.S. history. Read “And the Wilderness Shall Blossom” by Anne B. Allen

I nominate Saint Sebastian. We just returned from a trip to Italy where his tremendous popularity was evident…you couldn’t walk for 5 minutes without finding some image of him, including graffiti of him in the alleys. His outspokenness against the mistreatment of early Christians is as appealing as the visual of him surviving being shot through with arrows. My second nomination is Saint Barbara…how can you resist the patron saint of artillery?

That would be difficult to choose. I’d go for Martha, though, since she is not only the one who did the work but also the woman who asked Jesus how he could raise Lazarus when her brother had been dead for days.

“The holy and glorious venerable-martyr Maria Skobtsova (also Saint Mary of Paris or Mother Maria) was a nun and martyr in Paris in the early twentieth century.” (From Orthodox Wiki.) She has sometimes been compared to Dorothy Day. She died in a concentration camp in 1945, having rescued many Jews in France. Not as ‘flamboyant’ as some other Marys, she was a Bolshevik for awhile, returned to Christianity and became a nun only if she was not cloistered. Wrote several books and very active serving the poor. Check her out! She is on the Orthodox calendar in July.

Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat, saved thousands of Jews during WWII in Lithuania by going against orders and writing them visas to escape for 18 hours a day. He’s celebrated as a saint by the Eastern Orthodox (somewhat unofficially, but he is actually on many church calendars of saints days) which he had converted to after living in Lithuania for awhile. His story is largely unknown outside of Lithuania but would make a great movie.

Katerina von Bora Luther, besides putting up with Martin for so many years, and famously escaping her convent in a herring barrel, was actually quite the theologian herself, if untrained, and is celebrated by the Lutherans as a great church leader in her own right (we aren’t that big on “saints”).

John Knox for my Presbyterian friends,
St. Scholastica for my friends at the Benedictine monastery,
St. Julian of Norwich, St. Columba of Scotland, and St. Nicholas for the children I teach,
and Adelaide Teague Case, an early advocate for child centered learning.

I hereby nominate:
St. Kateri Tekakwitha (Born in 1656, died in 1680) was a layperson and a significant aboriginal figure in Canada with credit to numerous miraculous healings. She was beatified on June 22, 1980 and was canonised by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012. Her feast day is April 17 in Canada.

And two more Canadian Saints for your prayerful consideration:
St. Marguerite d’Youville (1701–1771).This pious woman founded the religious congregation called the Sisters of Charity, known as the “Grey Nuns.” Pope John Paul II canonized her in 1990. Her feast is celebrated on October 16.
St. Marguerite Bourgeoys (1620–1700) founded the Congregation of Notre Dame who are involved in providing Christian education to many parts of the world. She worked tirelessly to ensure the rights and welfare of women and children in New France and to ensure that young people received an education. Marguerite was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 31, 1982; her feast day is celebrated in Canada on January 12.
And to give credit in this reply and my previous reply: This information came from the folks Wikipedia, God bless them!

Sojourner Truth –“Aren’t I a Woman?” and had the strength of reprove Frederick Douglass for lack of faith
Pauli Murray
Bertha–paved the way for conversion of Ethelbert
Mother Jones even if she isn’t official
Benedict Biscop for putting together books to inspire Bede
Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury
Martin Luther–Without him, would Henry VIII have succeeded in the English Reformation. Also, where would we be without “A Mighty Fortress?”
Jan Hus–dying for one’s faith always is a step up
John Donne–for poems and sermons, even if they are often quoted too much

With joy and anticipation, I nominate Saint Philip Neri — one of the most humble and goofy of saints, “there are stories of him wearing ridiculous clothes or walking around with half his beard shaved off. The greater his reputation for holiness the sillier he wanted to seem. When some people came from Poland to see the great saint, they found him listening to another priest read to him from joke books.” I would also like to nominate Saint Juniper, a closer follower of Saint Francis of Assisi and a man who many later researchers have suggested displayed many of the classic attributes of a person with Autism.
Both of these saints truly lived in joyful humility — a rare quality indeed! And, I would also add St. Thaddeus (a.k.a. St. Jude, patron saint of lost causes). Wow, never-ever expected to eagerly anticipate Lent!

I nominate Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, who is listed in ‘Holy Women Holy Men, Celebration of the Saints’. He is honored with a feast day on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church on April 10th.
Pierre Teilhard was a first class 20th Century paleontologist as well as a Christian mystic. His vision expressed in his writings saw evolution bringing together all matter into a final goal in which spirit and matter will coincide and God shall be all in all which he called the Omega Point.

Phoebe (Koine Greek Φοίβη) was a first-century Christian woman mentioned by the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans, verses 16:1-2. A notable woman in the church of Cenchreae, she was trusted by Paul to deliver his letter to the Romans.[1] In writing to the church that almost surely met in her home,[2] Paul refers to her both as a deacon (Gk. diakonon masc.) and as a helper or patron of many (Gk. prostatis). This is the only place in the New Testament where a woman is specifically referred to with these two distinctions. Paul introduces Phoebe as his emissary to the church in Rome and, because they are not acquainted with her, Paul provides them with her credentials.

Phoebe’s exceptional character, noted[Rom. 16:2] by her status as a deacon and prostatis—one who should be esteemed highly “because of their work”[1 Thes. 5:12]— may be the reason Paul sent her to Rome where she delivered the letter to Rome. By referring to Phoebe as a prostatis, Paul solicits the attention and respect of the leaders in Rome’s church, which also included other women, namely Prisca/(Priscilla)[Rom. 16:3], Mary[Rom. 16:6], Junia[Rom. 16:7], and Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis [16:12] .[3]

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.

My nomination goes to Pandita Ramabai, champion of women’s education and emancipation in 19th century India. Her work improved the lives of Indian widows, child brides, temple prostitutes, and outcasts, among others, and brought the light of learning to untold numbers of women and girls. She was a traveler, a teacher, a poet, a scholar, a single mother, and a tireless social reformer, and is honored as a saint by the Episcopal Church.

I also submit for your consideration St. Marina the Monk, who entered a monastery to study alongside her father in boy’s clothing. When a local innkeeper’s daughter named her as “father” of her child, “Brother” Marina lovingly raised the baby as her own, despite the harsh censure of her fellow monastic brothers. Her story is honored by Coptic Orthodox and Maronite Catholics.

I would like to nominate Mother Antonia who did a great work in the prisons of Tijuana BC Mexico as well as among Hispanics in San Diego CA. Enclosed find a biography of her. More info on her can be found on the internet.

Mother Antonia was born Mary Clarke on December 1, 1926, to Joseph Clarke and Kathleen Mary Clarke. She was married and divorced twice, and had seven children, living in Beverly Hills, California.[1] She has said that in 1969 she had a dream that she was a prisoner at Calvary and about to be executed, when Jesus appeared to her and offered to take her place. She refused his offer, touched him on the cheek, and told him she would never leave him, no matter what happens to her. At some point in the 1970s, she chose to devote her life to the Church, in part because of this dream.[1] As an older, divorced woman, Clarke was banned by church rules from joining any religious order, so she went about her work on her own. She founded an order for those in her situation: the Servants of the Eleventh Hour.[2] The Church has since blessed her mission and, on September 25, 2009, she received the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award, presented at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego.[2]

In addition to her normal work involving the prisoners, she negotiated an end to a riot.[1][3] She also persuaded the jail administrators to discontinue prisoner incarceration in substandard cells known as the tumbas (tomb)s.[1]

The road outside the jail, known until recently as “Los Pollos” (“The Chickens”), was renamed in November 2007 to “Madre Antonia” in her honor.[1]

She is profiled in the book The Prison Angel, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan.

In 2010, Estudio Frontera released a DVD documentary on Mother Antonia’s life, La Mama: An American Nun’s Life in a Mexican Prison. Produced and written by Jody Hammond, photographed and edited by Ronn Kilby, and narrated by Susan Sarandon, the film took five years to make.[4]

Mother Antonia died on October 17, 2013 at the age of 86 at her Tijuana home. She had recently been in declining health.[5][6]
Thank you for your consideration of her

WHILE JOHN XXIII IS NOT IN THE EPISCOPAL CALENDAR HE IS IN THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA CALENDAR. JUNE 4TH AND IS CALLED A REFORMER. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS CANONIZED HIM AS YOU MAY KNOW.
HOWEVER, IF POSSIBLE I WOULD LIKE HIS NAME PUT FORTH.

From my own denomination I nominate Ted Studebaker and John Kline. Ted Studebaker was a Christian Pacifist who was drafted for the Vietnam War. He chose to go to Vietnam as an agricultural worker rather than a soldier, and sent two years working with the people of the village of Di Linh. While there he fell in love with and married fellow mission worker Pakdy, a Chinese girl from Hong Kong. One week after their wedding he was murdered by the Vietcong. John Kline lived in Virginia during the American Civil War. He was vehemently opposed to slavery as a moral evil and the only person in his county who voted against succession from the union. He refused to let the war get in the way of his duties as both an Elder of the Church of the Brethren (the called the German Baptist Brethren) and a doctor. He was martyred while riding home from a missionary journey, probably by his own neighbors who suspected him of being a spy. I also nominate Blessed Franz Jagerstatter, a Roman Catholic family man who was martyred for his refusal to join the Nazi army during World War II.

I nominate St. Dymphna, patron saint of “the nervous, emotionally disturbed, mentally ill, and those who suffer neurological disorders – and, consequently, of psychologists, psychiatrists, and neurologists. She is also the patron saint of victims of incest” (per Wikipedia, at least.) She is under-celebrated and under-acknowledged!

St. Aristobulus, recently mentioned in a 50 Days of Fabulous meditation! His story is fascinating. Imagine being one of the 72 disciples sent forth by Jesus, possibly related to the Zebedees and Joseph of Arimathea who winds up in Roman Britain in 37 AD. Then subsequently becomes a bishop and founds the community at Glastonbury. I can’t think of a better candidate!

The 14th century is full of candidates. I nominate the 14th century French mystic Marguerite Porete, who inspired Meister Eckhart, but had a much more tragic end. Also the great English mystics Richard Rolle, Walter Hilton and even the anonymous author of the Cloud of Unknowing.

I second Bindy Snyder’s nomination of Constance and her Companions (Martyrs of Memphis). I graduated from St.Mary’s Episcopal School in Peekskill, N.Y. and live in New Orleans, LA that’s had its own run-ins with yellow fever.

I nominate Fred Rogers who taught me more about being a “neighbor” and how to treat my “neighbors” than all the Sunday School combined!

“Love isn’t a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.”
― Fred Rogers, The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember

“It’s the people we love the most who can make us feel the gladdest … and the maddest! Love and anger are such a puzzle!”
― Fred Rogers, The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember

St. Raphael, powerful Archangel — one of the seven who stand eternally before the very throne of God. “St. Raphael’s efficacious intercession obtains healing of body and soul, brings potential spouses together , safeguards travelers and instills peace and joy into troubled hearts.”

I second Ellen’s nomination of JOAN OF ARC, Savior of France.
If you think she’s not worthy (as I would have thought earlier), then read Mark Twain’s account of her life, as I did. My mind was certainly changed.

I made the same nomination before reading your post. We obviously love gardening and St. Fiacre, in addition to sharing the same name. In spite of his being misogynistic–as any proper medieval monk was supposed to be–he seems pretty wonderful.

I’d like to nominate John Eliot, “Apostle to the Indians,” who translated the Bible into Mohawk for the residents of the Indian Towns of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. According to Wikipedia (dare I trust it?), the Episcopal Church celebrates him on May 21.

Should anyone wonder how I know of such an obscure gentleman, I am a native of Natick, one of those Indian Towns. In Eliot’s time, I could not have lived there, as all with property rights were required to be Native Americans. All Natick schoolchildren of my generation learned about the Natick Bible, with one of the few remaining copies in the library of South Natick, on the Charles River.

I nominate St. Claire. Not only did she sneak out a window to join up with her buddy, Francis, but encouraged her sister Agnes to likewise run away from the family home. Also, though I don’t know why….she’s the Patron Saint of Technology! Appropriate that I nominate her via my computer!

I nominate the following:
Kentigern (or Mungo) – died 614, patron of saint of salmon (read the story and find out about the bird, the tree, the bell and the fish) and Glasgow
Columbanus – died 615, patron saint of motorcycles (really?), Irish missionary, founded a number of monasteries on the European continent, has more extant writings than most other Celtic saints
James Solomon Russell – born into slavery on a plantation in VA, later was the first student in the Bishop Payne Divinity School, ordained a deacon in 1882, a priest in 1887, founded St. Paul’s Church and later St. Paul’s College.

St. Boniface – raised as a Roman Catholic, my childhood was spent at St. Boniface our parish. This past year I have come to really appreciate the church which has since merged with other parishes and changed names . Boniface was a prominent saint in Germany.
St. Anne – Grandmother of Jesus (nuff said) and also in honor of my Aunt Ann who turns 100 on Mother’s Day 5/10/2015.
Florence Nightingale – because the world will always need great nurses
St. Thomas the apostle – I am so much the “doubting Thomas” in parts of my life

I nominate Dag Hammarskjold (1905-1961) – September 18th on ECLA calendar. UN Secretary General who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize after his death in a mysterious plane crash while on his way to a peace-making mission in 1961. In 1963 “Markings”, a journal of his spiritual life was published and became a best-seller. Hammarskjold called it “A sort of white book concerning my negotiations with myself — and with God.” Excerpts of “Markings” can be found at http://chippit.tripod.com/markings.html

I also nominate Catherine McAuley (1778-1841), Irish heiress who used her fortune to build a house where she and other compassionate women could take in homeless women and children to provide care and an education for them in Dublin. She eventually founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831, now an international order.

I nominate St Blase (Blaise), 4th Century Bishop of Dubrovnik, known for his miraculous cures of throat ailments and his ability to cure animals of illness. Legend says he was martyred by the Romans. They located the cave in which he had taken shelter because the many animals he cared for were lurking outside.

André Bessette, (9 August 1845 – 6 January 1937), more commonly known as Brother André, and since his canonization as St. André of Montreal, was a lay brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross and a significant figure of the Roman Catholic Church among French-Canadians, credited with thousands of reported miraculous healings. He was declared venerable in 1978 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1982. Pope Benedict XVI approved the decree of sainthood for Blessed André on February 19, 2010, with the formal canonization taking place on October 17, 2010.

St Columba – who still inspires the Iona Community to send people out to carry the word of the gospel to every creature.
Eglantine Jebb – remembered in the C of E calendar on 17th December. She trained as a teacher, discovered she couldn’t stand the ‘little wretches’ and went on to found Save the Children in response to the plight of refugees in the First World War. She then fought for the rights of the child to be recognised through her Children’s Charter which is the basis on the UN Rights of the Child. Plus she has such a great name
Anselm of Canterbury
Julian of Norwich

Okay guys- you say you want someone either ancient or modern- how about someone immortal, as in NOT mortal or even human? St. Gabriel! When we suggested him/her last year, you had the audacity to put Gabe up for early voting against the almighty unbeatable Francis at the National Episcopal Youth event! Guess what happened! We think our beloved Angel-in- residence deserves a second shot without Francis in the running. Let’s do this right for 2016—-remember, Gabriel has Mary’s ear…..

Dame Julian of Norwich…for her beautiful writings on God’s eternal love and her famous “showing”: “I can make all things well; I will make all things well; I shall make all things well; and thou canst see for thyself that all manner of things shall be well.”

I nominate St. Carantoc. I had never heard of him until I was asked to preach and celebrate on his feast day at St. Carantoc’s Anglican Church in Francistown, Botswana, several years ago. Anyone who puts a stone cross on a boat and is surprised the boat sinks and then sees this as a call to build a church nearby deserves to be in this competition!

I greatly enjoyed participating this year and regularly updating my colleagues about wins and losses. All of us regretted the failure of Hildegard to make it out of the first round so you will see that she is back on our list. I was extremely pleased with the ultimate winner as his saint day is my birthday, hence a natural affinity!

Saint Botolph, patron saint of wayfarers and travelers .. discovered when I was traveling .. http://www.botolph.org.uk/who-was-st-botolph/
Richard Hooker .. the theologian not MASH author
Julian of Norwich .. seen her name on some prayer memes I like
St Columba .. Iona is still on my bucket list
Thomas Becket .. devote yourself to a new job and it’s not appreciated
John Bunyan .. not related to Paul .. I know his famous work’s title – The Pilgrim’s Progress – from its inclusion in Little Women, but nothing about him

I suggest Ann Hutchinson who was accused of heresy because she (a mere woman) dared to lead a bible study and some men (gasp) attended. One of the first settlers and one of the first truly independent thinkers of this country.

Paul Jones
William Temple
Dorothy Day
John Cassian
Augustine of Hippo
Isaac of Nineveh
Benedict
Mark the Evangelist

And, I would love to see William Stringfellow, who has been put forth in Great Cloud of Witnesses as someone who should be held in the churches memory as someone “worthy of commemoration” despite not meeting the “reasonable passage of time” guideline yet.

I nominate St. Genesius of Rome, patron saint of actors, comedians, converts, dancers, musicians, and sundry non-creative types including lawyers and stenographers (go figure!). His on-stage conversion to Christianity so enraged Diocletian that he ordered him dragged from the stage, tortured and ultimately beheaded for his refused to denounce his new faith.

I nominate Anthony Benezet (1713-1784). The American historian Garry Wills says Benezet is “the one unquestionably authentic American saint”. He was born in France but moved at age 18 with his family to Philadelphia. Benezet is not well known now but in his day he was influential in the American colonies, Europe, and the Caribbean. He was described as a short, ugly, humble school teacher. But he was formidable when advocating for all disenfranchised groups such as blacks, women, Indians, and Acadians. He started schools for blacks and women – in the 1700s in America!!! He petitioned the state assembly to allow Acadians, who had been kicked out of Nova Scotia, to enter the city. He climbed aboard vessels in the harbor to care for Acadians (he and spoke Acadian). .He took the Acadian girls into his girls’ school. Not only did he advocate for disenfranchised groups, he befriended them and raised funds to help them. He was a tireless opponent of slavery who influenced and equipped many notable people of his time to oppose slavery (although he was unable to convince Anglicans to give up their interpretation of the Bible which was that the Bible endorsed slavery). John Wesley borrowed heavily from Benezet’s writings is crafting his own arguments against slavery. Benezet’s arguments against slavery were widely distributed in Europe and the Caribbean and he personally petitioned the English government to stop the slave trade. His works on slavery were translated into French and German. Benezet intervened multiple times on behalf of the American Indians. He went to peace conferences and got support for treaties. He attacked the Pennsylvania Assembly when it offered rewards for Indian scalps. Like other saints before him, on his deathbed he lamented his lack of achievement saying, “I am dying, and feel ashamed to meet the face of my Master. I have done so little in his cause.”

I most humbly thank the committee for this gracious season of open nominations and place before your holinesses the name of a most excellent and saintly candidate:

Saint Expedito

Expedito is truly a saint for our times, helping with those last minute deadlines or to smooth the way for complex calendars. By relieving our schedules of 21st century stress, this second century Armenian martyr may help us reclaim the leisure required for love to flourish.

Here is my holy trinity of saintly nominations: St. Bernadette, St. Vincent de Paul, & St. Lucy (aka St. Lucia.) It took quite an effort to limit myself to only three this year. Oh wait, a fourth! With Julian of Norwich I negate my trinity.

I nominate Padre Junipero Serra for the 2016 brackets. He was beatified in 1988 by Pope John Paul II and will be canonized this Fall by Pope Francis when he makes his visit to the U.S. Serra was an 18th century Spanish Franciscan friar. He was sent as a missionary to a province of New Spain called Alta California.

Let’s take an imaginary trip together and see his legacy. We’ll start in San Diego, near the Mexican border; our trip will end in San Francisco. It can be driven in two days, but we’ll take longer because we’ll stop at each of the 21 missions he founded. We’ll admire the Spanish colonial architecture with its tile roofs, patios and cloisters. The sanctuaries will be an amazing sight, with art created by Native American converts depicting Bible stories and the life of Christ. But we’ll be quiet—at any time of day there will be worshipers engaged in prayer. These are still active parish churches, many with schools attached. They have been ministering to the faithful for over 200 years.

The mission grounds also serve as museums showing life in early California. The tanneries, olive presses, and other equipment are still there. Each of them has a cemetery where the Friars are buried, along with their Indian converts and early families who settled the ranchos of California.

Each one has a gift shop which abounds in Padre Serra kitsch, should our Friar make it to that level. And serious religious art, books, rosaries, and CDs of music composed by the mission Indians.

It will take us several days to visit all 21, stopping frequently. The missions are located about 30 miles apart, a day’s journey on foot. The road establish by Pdre Serra was known as El Camino Real—the King’s Highway. We know it today as the Pacific Coast highway. The scenery will be spectacular. The highway was the major north-south artery until the Interstate system came into being in the 1950s. We will pass through cities that group up around these missions—San Diego, San Gabriel, Santa Clara, Santa Barbara and a host more.

In his announcement of Padre Serra’s canonization he made a statement something to the effect that Serra was one of the U.S.’s founding fathers. So there’s a quote if he makes it to that bracket.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Native Americans are less than thrilled about his impending sainthood. They blame him for the loss of indigenous culture and language here in California, and because of their enforced labor on mission lands. It’s a touchy thing, judging another age by our standards.

Still, I think Padre Serra needs to be better known outside of California, and deserves a chance at the Golden Halo.

I nominate Jonathan Myrick Daniels (March 20, 1939 – August 20, 1965) who was an Episcopal seminarian and civil rights activist. He was murdered in Hayneville, Alabama, when he saved a young woman activist, while they were working on the Civil Rights Movement in Lowndes County. His death generated support for the Civil Rights Movement. In 1991, Daniels was designated as a martyr in the Episcopal church and is recognized annually on August 14.[1][2] He is memorialized in the Civil Rights Movement and other venues

I’d like to see St. Hilary on the list for next year. I was pleasantly surprised to see how far Kamehameha IV made it this year . Coming from Hawaii it was great to see someone we learned about in 4th grade history considered a “saint”. This also includes Emma from a previous year. Mahalo.

The Left Coast is grossly underrepresented. I suggest Cesar Chavez, leader of farm workers. And there is Fr. Junipero Serra, currently proposed by Pope Francis for sainthood, but who has become a controversial figure, despite his establishment of missions all along the California coast.

I second St.anthony of Padua, finder of lost objects. I also nominate St. Martin De Porres, saint of the new world, biracial and champion of the poor in Peru, and St. Louise de Merillac, patron of social workers.

As a graduate of St. Andrews University (Scotland County, NC!), got to go with St. Andrew. And I don’t know if he’s eligible, but George Fox? Best friend is Quaker and the pacifist ways have had a great influence on me.

I would like to suggest Henry David Thoreau – not a church man I know but his writings on civil disobedience inspired a lot of people and movements to work for justice and freedom. He also wrote about the importance and spirituality of the natural world and in these days of climate change, pollution and general planetary abuse, we could use a little of his wisdom and foresight. We could also use some of his scientific curiosity and persistence in mining for the truth. He may be a hair shirt of a man but perhaps it comes with the saintly territory!

As a chaplain who works with oncology patients, I would like to nominate St. Peregrine, one of the truly little known saints, who was healed of cancer himself and is now the patron saint of cancer patients.
I’m glad as well to join in nominating Julian of Norwich. Her words have provided hope and consolation to many of my patients.
And delighted to see that several others are also suggesting Fred Rogers!

I would like to nominate John Woolman, Quaker preacher (1720-1772). He was an early abolitionist and traveled through the frontier areas of British North America advocating against slavery and economic injustice. His journal his been consistently in print since 1774.

I second (or third or fourth…) the nomination of Julian of Norwich. I was powerfully reminded on her recent feast day that our remembrance that “all manner of things will be well” is a call to the Holy Spirit that never fails.

I agree with nominating Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, because he provided us with a unifying vision of our universe for the 21st Century, but integrated with our faith tradition. I tried to nominate him earlier, but I have not found my entry, so I second your entry, George.

I would once again like to put forth the name of Susanna Wesley, mother of John and Charles and 17 other Wesleys. Her profound influence of the lives of her sons John and Charles had a direct impact on the Methodist movement. She also was a formidable force in her own right, not only bearing 19 children with Samuel Wesley, but keeping Samuel’s parish going when he was in and out of debtor’s prison (no Financial Peace University at that time). One might argue that if it weren’t for Susanna, there would be no Methodism.

Thanks, Jennifer, for helping us (Oliver) with the details of his selections. We were in Saint Margaret’s chapel today (unfortunately more a tourist site without a moment for pray though Oliver managed), and hopefully able to visit the Isle of Iona tomorrow to pay homage to St. Columba.

I was glad to help! How disappointing that St. Margaret’s Chapel does not provide time to pray. I don’t think she would not be happy about that since I have read that prayer was very important to her. But I think she would be very pleased that Oliver found a way since that is something she would have done herself. I hope you bring back pictures. I can’t wait to hear all about the places you visited in Scotland! I nominated St. Columba since he was a favorite of several of our Godly Play students. (Although I think many were influenced by Oliver!)

I nominate St. Frideswide, the patron saint of the city of Oxford and the university. In the seventh century she founded a convent despite the violent opposition of a local warlord who wanted to marry her by force. She had to flee with her sisters for her life and even took refuge in a pig sty. She represents the many women of the period who wanted to live independent lives in community dedicated to God.
I also nominate Thomas Merton.

I nominate Jonathan Myrick Daniels, the Episcopal seminarian who volunteered as a civil rights worker and was killed when he was shot by an angry shop owner attempting to murder a young African American man.

Since you seem to be reaching beyond those who are already in HWHM, I would nominate two who are
already recognized in other Anglican Calendars but not our own: Edward the Confessor (Ok, this is personal, he was the one who brought my family to England — but that alone should qualify him for the Golden Halo), and King Charles the Martyr (not for the sake of monarchism, but because many credit his death with allowing the revival of Anglicanism after the ravages of Cromwell’s Puritans.

I will only point out that a bracket with Martin Luther and Martin Luther King Jr. would surely break a record for comments that day; I can only imagine the fervor of the discussion. It would be too fun to miss.

Also: must the saints be Christian? I think of Sacagawa, who mediated between native whites and native Indians on the great overland voyage west on foot of Lewis and Clark, so formative in “our” (U.S. American) history; her presence with a baby signalled a peaceful not warlike party to the tribes they encountered. She too voted on the headland of Oregon. She seems like an important symbolic person.

Also, Rumi, a great spiritual poet, and Mohamed, a spiritual prophet, come to mind. Could we include saints from alternative religious traditions? Would that be seen as outreach (or, alas, potentially as appropriation)? Do such suggestions go beyond the scope of Lent Madness (which is after all, quite mad)? Perhaps I’ll end by nominating Lewis Carroll. Peace to all.

Although I would support many of the previous nominations made by posters here, I would like to nominate two outstanding women, both of whom are recognized in the Episcopal Calendar of Saints: Sojourner Truth; and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
Truth was a slave in New York State and spoke out against the often neglected evils of northern slavery. She was a tireless advocate for women’s equality, and a campaigner for addressing the needs of freed slaves in the post-Civil War period.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, also a New Yorker, was both an abolitionist and a progenitor of the women’s rights movement. She opposed the 14th & 15th amendments because they gave rights to African-American men that were denied to women.
Either of these women would be a strong contender for the Golden Halo.

How about Zoe of Pamphylia, cared for the dogs in a Roman household. She became a Christian and encouraged her family who became Christians too. Was ‘outed’ during one of the many persecutions and martyred in 127.
Also Henrietta Barnett who worked with her husband Samuel around London to encourage tolerance, education and much more. Was involved in building projects that encouraged community and peaceful living. She died 1936.

I would also nominate Henry Spaulding and Marcus Whitman who, along with their wives, Eliza Spaulding and Narcissa Prentiss Whitman, traveled on the first wagon train on the Oregon Trail to perform missionary work, and bring medical services, to the Nez Perce of the Oregon Territory, in 1836. Eliza and Narcissa were the first European women to cross the Rocky Mountains. The Whitmans were martyred in the Whitman Massacre, after a misunderstanding led the Native-Americans to believe that they had intentionally brought the measles for which they were treating children, with them.

I’d like to nominate Saint Mary Mazzerello. She became the spiritual counterpart to Saint John Bosco of Turin. Little known, she was a contemporary of Saint John Bosco, and became the first Superior of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, founded under the advisement of Saint John Bosco. This order provided education to poor girls, just as Saint John Bosco was providing education to poor boys.

Clare of Assisi, Julian of Norwich, Martha of Bethany, St. Thomas-Apostle, John Chrysostom, St. Aristobulus, Harriet Starr Cannon, Harriet Tubman, and St. Gobnait-female Irish saint. She was said to keep bees! Thank you.

Now that St. Francis of Assisi has won his well-deserved golden halo, I would like to nominate St. Francis Solanus. He has a lovely church and monastery dedicated to him in Lima, Peru. One of the stories I recall from our tour was that he came into a Christmas celebration playing the fiddle, and his joy expressed in that music was so contagious that all present danced and rejoiced.

I am curious about San Andres. He has the dubious distinction of having a major earthquake fault in California named after him. I don’t know why. Also, is San Andres the same saint as St. Andrew?
When there’s a lot of shaking going on around the state, it is often San Andres’ Fault. Of course, he has a lot of sidekicks.
Looking forward to the new slate of saintly candidates for LM 2016!

We nominate Queen Liliuokalani, last Queen of Hawaii, and devoted Anglican, whose prayer from her imprisonment, O Kou Aloha No, is still sung weekly at eucharists in Hawaii.
Quick translation: “Your loving mercy is in heaven and your truth is perfect. I live imprisoned in sorrow; you are my light; your glory, my support. Behold not with malevolence the sins of humankind, but forgive and cleanse. And so, O Lord, beneath your wings protect us and let peace be our portion now and forever more.”
submitted by Len and Lindsay Freeman+

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